A Venison Steak Salad Recipe for just one please!
Sometimes you just want to cook something special for yourself! This venison steak salad with avocado and radish makes a healthy, balanced and delicious lunch or dinner. You can use deer, elk, antelope, moose, or caribou to make this steak salad. It's ideal for home cooks who like fast and easy weekday meals. The ingredients in this quick and simple salad work amazing together to create a refreshing burst of flavor in every bite!

Why You'll Love This Steak Salad
Cooking for one doesn’t have to mean bland, repetitive meals or relying on takeout. It’s an opportunity to treat yourself to fresh, wholesome ingredients while making something that truly satisfies. When you cook for yourself, you control what goes into your food and how it’s prepared. This venison steak salad recipe is perfect for a quick, healthy, and flavorful meal that doesn’t sacrifice taste or quality. It’s easy enough for a weeknight but feels indulgent in all the right ways
Venison Steak Salad - A Quick & Heathy Meal
Eating healthy when cooking for one can be a challenge. It's tempting to take shortcuts or skip the effort, but with this venison steak salad, you'll have a meal that's both nutritious and delicious. Venison is leaner than beef, packed with protein, and full of great flavor that shines with the right preparation. Paired with veggies, creamy avocado, and a zesty lime dressing, this dish delivers satisfaction without weighing you down.
This steak salad recipe is also perfect for busy home cooks who want something quick without compromising on quality. With just a few fresh ingredients and a simple cooking process, you can enjoy a restaurant-worthy meal in just 15 minutes.
Steak Salad Ingredients
- 8 ounces venison steak
- Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 radishes, thinly sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 ripe Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and cubed or sliced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
How To Make This Steak Salad Recipe
1. Prepare the Venison Steak
- On a cutting board, tenderize the venison steak using a Jaccard meat tenderizer.
- Pat the steak dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps it sear properly.
2. Sear the Steak
- Place a heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, on the stove and sprinkle it lightly but evenly with about ¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
- Turn the heat to medium-high and let the pan get hot.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter.
- Pat the steak dry again and place it in the pan.
- Let it sizzle for 1 minute, then use tongs to flip it.
- Keep cooking over medium-high heat, flipping every 20 seconds, until it develops a deep brown crust, about 3 minutes total.
- Using an instant-read thermometer, insert it into the side of the steak. Remove from heat when it reaches an internal temperature of about 130 degrees F.
- Transfer to a cutting board, tent lightly with foil, and let it rest.
3. Assemble the Salad
- In a medium bowl, toss the radishes, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Arrange the radish mixture on a plate, then top with the avocado and cilantro.
4. Slice the Steak and Serve
- Thinly slice the venison steak against the grain for maximum tenderness.
- Place the sliced steak on top of the salad.
- Drizzle with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
The Benefits Of Cooking For One
Usually I'm cooking dinner for three people. But there are times when my wife is at work and our daughter is at school, and I'm working at home during the day. Too often I'm heating up leftovers. But sometimes I want to enjoy a high protein healthy salad.
Healthy Eating Without the Hassle
When you cook at home, you avoid the hidden sugars, unhealthy fats, and excessive sodium found in restaurant meals. This steak salad recipe keeps things fresh, with high-quality protein from the venison and heart-healthy fats from the avocado and olive oil.
Minimal Waste, Maximum Flavor
One of the challenges of cooking for one is avoiding food waste. This recipe is designed to use fresh ingredients efficiently, so you’re not stuck with a fridge full of leftovers you won’t eat. If you have extra radishes, onions, or jalapeño, use them in another salad or as toppings for tacos later in the week.
A Fast and Satisfying Meal
This venison steak salad comes together in just 15 minutes. You get a meal that feels restaurant-quality without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you're winding down after work or just looking for a quick lunch, this recipe has you covered.
Tips For The Best Venison Steak Salad
- Let the steak rest. Cutting into it too soon will cause the juices to escape, making it dry.
- Slice against the grain. This ensures the steak stays tender and easy to chew.
- Use a hot skillet. A properly heated pan gives you that perfect crust on your steak.
- Adjust the spice level. If you like more heat, leave the jalapeño seeds in. For a milder version, remove them.
More Great Venison Steak Recipes
If you are looking for more great venison steak recipes, be sure and check out some of these other family favorites:
- Cast Iron Venison Steak Recipe
- Deer Backstrap and Potato Stacks
- Deer Steak and Mushroom Crostini
- Venison Steak and Mushroom Galette Recipe
Come Deer Hunting in North Dakota
If you are headed our way for North Dakota deer season, check out the North Dakota Game & Fish Department website. And if you want me to come along with you as your camp cook, photographer, or butcher, you can find out more details here.
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DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE
If you make this Venison Steak Salad Recipe, tag @wildgameandfish so I can share it on my Instagram stories.
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Venison Steak Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces venison steak
- kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 2 radishes, thinly sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 ripe Hass avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed or sliced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- On a cutting board, tenderize the venison steak with a Jaccard meat tenderizer. Pat venison steak dry with paper towels.
- Place a heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, on the stove and sprinkle lightly but evenly with about ¼ teaspoon flaky sea salt. Turn heat to medium-high. When pan is hot, add 1 Tablespoon olive oil and 1 Tablespoon butter. Pat steak dry again and place in the pan.
- Let steak sizzle for 1 minute, then use tongs to flip it over. Keep cooking over medium-high heat, flipping steak every 20 seconds until it develops a dark-brown crust, about 3 minutes total. Using an instant-read thermometer, insert into side of steak. Remove from heat once it reaches internal temperature of about 130 degrees F. Steak with continue cooking after being removed from heat.
- Let steak rest on a cutting board and tent lightly with foil and let rest while you assemble the salad
- In a medium bowl, combine the radishes with the red onion, jalapeno, lime juice and the other 1 Tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt.
- Arrange the radish mixture on the plate, then top with the avocado and cilantro.
- On a cutting board, thinly slice the venison steak, making sure to slice across the grain of the meat.
- Top the salad mixture with the sliced steak and drizzle the entire dish with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Serve immediately.